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GAUDRON Marine

Advisor - Territorial Cohesion & Local Finances

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Territorial development

Rural development

Rural Development - Press

EU develops its vision for rural areas alongside local governments

Good news! The long-awaited EU’s long-term vision for rural areas towards 2040 was finally presented this week by the EU Commission’s Vice President, Dubravka Suica, and Commissioners for Cohesion, Elisa Ferreira, and for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski.

Today, rural areas are home to almost 30% of Europe’s population (137 million people in total) which covers 80% of the EU’s territory. However, their situation is a cause for concern: depopulation and the decline of public services are driving alienation and political discontent across our continent.

With this new vision, the EU executive aims to ensure stronger and connected rural areas through mobility and digital solutions, areas more resilient to climate change and economic crisis and prosperous rural areas through diversified economy.

With no doubt, the EU is part of the answer, but it has to involve towns and regions as drivers for long-term territorial development. Here in short is what is planned: 

What place for local and regional governments?

The Commission aims to mobilise public authorities at all levels and rural stakeholders, with the launch of a Rural Pact by the end of 2021. It invites the different levels of government to design a strategy and an action plan addressing the challenges faced by rural areas.  

We need to ensure that Europe’s towns and regions will be at the centre of this strategy. In this regard, the creation of a “Rural revitalisation platform” represents a great step forward as the one-stop shop for rural communities, project holders and local governments offering guidance on funding opportunities and visibility for successful projects. 

According to the communication, a special focus will be put on the collection of best practices specifically for rural municipalities and regions, around sustainable multimodal mobility, energy transition and climate adaptation. 

At CEMR we have advocated a change in narrative towards more positive messages that promote assets of the countryside, from a cultural and tourism viewpoint, but also through economic diversification. It is a great step ahead that EU’s vision is clearly aligned with this recommendation and that it recognises the diversity of rural areas, calling for locally designed solutions. 

An EU Rural action plan to implement the vision 

The Commission also proposed a Rural action plan to implement its vision around some flagship initiatives. But in terms of funding, it doesn’t propose new financing sources beyond the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the Cohesion Policy funds, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and InvestEU. Therefore, the Commission also intends to develop a toolkit on access to and optimal combination of EU funding opportunities in rural areas, accessible to local and other stakeholders. 

There is a need for more consistency between various EU policies and their impact at the local level. This is why we welcome the introduction of a “Rural proofing” mechanism to analyse any potential impact that EU policies may have on rural jobs, growth and sustainable development as part of the Better Regulation Agenda. 

As of now, all EU policies will be reviewed through a rural lens, the Commission is creating a rural observatory in 2022 to better understand and analyse economic, social and demographic trends in rural areas. 

Citizens support local decision making

A recently published Eurobarometer shed light on citizens’ concerns around the situation of rural areas. Some of the results resonate clearly with CEMR’s recommendations to revitalise the countryside: 

– 79% of EU citizens support the EU giving consideration to rural areas in public spending decisions

– 65% think that the local area or province should be able to decide how the EU investment in rural areas is spent

– 44% mentioned transport infrastructure and connections as a key need of rural areas

Nest steps

By mid-2023 the Commission will take stock of the achievements and highlight remaining gaps and funding needs. In 2024, it will come up with recommendations for the upcoming Commission’s budget (2028-2032).

For CEMR also our work will continue. Save the date for our session “Rural connections” on 14 October (11.30 – 13.00) during the European Week of Regions and Cities. We will discuss how to achieve the vision’s objective through mobility and digital innovation. 

GAUDRON Marine
In EU budget, EU budget, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Publications, Territorial development, Territorial development

Rural Areas and EU Funds

Rural Europe - News

How can local and regional governments in rural areas access EU funds, identify key challenges, and provide recommendations for improvement 

Read full study

Rural areas are central to Europe’s territorial, social, and economic cohesion, but they often face persistent challenges, from ageing populations and digital divides to restricted access to services. Recognising this, the European Commission is developing a long-term vision for rural areas. In this context, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has examined how local and regional governments (LRGs) in rural areas access and use EU funds, an essential tool for addressing local needs and unlocking development potential. 

In March 2021, CEMR conducted a targeted survey among nine national associations of municipalities across the EU to assess how effectively rural LRGs are utilising EU funds. The results point to a clear mismatch: while EU funding is recognised as highly relevant for rural areas, its actual use by LRGs remains limited in many cases. 

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) are considered the most relevant, and most used, by rural LRGs. However, other important programmes like LIFE, Erasmus+, and Connecting Europe Facility are seen as underused, despite their potential relevance. Several barriers contribute to this situation, including overly complex administrative requirements, lack of technical capacity in small municipalities, and limited awareness of support mechanisms. 

The analysis also reveals a concerning gap between the perceived importance of rural challenges and the effectiveness of EU funds in addressing them. While EU funding appears helpful in tackling issues like poverty, pollution, or lack of services, it is perceived as inadequate in dealing with demographic decline, public transport gaps, or the rise of populism, issues at the heart of rural fragility. 

CEMR’s study further shows that some Member States provide national or regional support to help rural LRGs access EU funds, but awareness and coordination are often lacking. There is also difficulty in combining different EU funding streams, such as CAP and cohesion funds, limiting the efficiency of investment. 

CEMR’s findings point to the need for a new narrative on rural areas, one that recognises them as drivers of opportunity, not merely recipients of aid. To make this vision a reality, EU funds must be more accessible, tailored, and coherent with rural priorities. This includes simplifying administrative processes, improving communication, and better aligning funding objectives with on-the-ground realities. 

As the EU shapes its long-term vision for rural areas, the voice of local and regional governments must be heard. They are not only implementers of EU policy, but they are also essential partners in building vibrant, resilient rural territories. A stronger focus on their role will be crucial to ensuring no place is left behind. 

Read the study here 

For more information, contact: 

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Latest

Cohesion Alliance

Cohesion Policy Alliance - News 2021

EU-wide coalition urges national governments to involve regions and cities in the preparation of post-COVID recovery plans and to avoid a “vaccine divide” in Europe

On the eve of the European Council meeting, the #Cohesion Alliance – an EU-wide alliance of 12,000 signatories advocating for a stronger cohesion policy after 2020 – calls upon member states to work in partnership with local and regional governments in the design, implementation and governance of national recovery and resilience plans.

The Cohesion Alliance also urges national parliaments to ratify the decision on own resources as soon as possible, allowing the European Commission to borrow up to EUR 750 billion on the capital markets to address the negative effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, the Alliance warns EU leaders against the risk of a competition for vaccines, as this would increase inequalities between European regions, cities and villages.  

Local and regional governments have been on the frontline of the health crisis from the outset, and will play a key role in delivering a fair, sustainable and resilient recovery across Europe. However, as member states prepare their national recovery plans, it has become clear that in many countries our regions, cities and municipalities, as well as our socio-economic partners, are not being meaningfully involved in the planning process. 

Europe’s recovery will only be as resilient as the recovery in all its regions, villages, towns and cities. Their needs are diverse, and an effective recovery is only possible if we acknowledge and address the numerous challenges and divides faced by all of Europe’s territories, from the rural and most isolated areas to the most urbanized, from islands to mountainous regions, sparsely populated and border regions. Investments need to match territorial needs. Without a real say for local and regional governments in the design, implementation and governance of the national recovery and resilience plans, there is a serious risk that many regions will be left behind. Local and regional governments are responsible for a third of public expenditure and half of public investment in the EU. The recovery will simply not happen without them on board.

European solidarity means proving with action that cohesion is a fundamental value for the EU. We therefore call upon all member states to work in partnership with local and regional governments, socio-economic partners and civil society in the design, implementation and governance of national recovery plans which are to be submitted to the European Commission by the end of April. We underline the need to fully respect the principles of partnership and multilevel governance, and for a place-based approach in this process.  

The Cohesion Alliance welcomed the creation of the EUR 750 billion recovery instrument Next Generation EU, also known as the Recovery Plan for Europe, as an historic moment for the European Union. Now it is time to translate the most powerful investment plan ever deployed by the EU into action. However, too many member states have yet to ratify the decision on own resources, the piece of legislation that would enable the European Commission to borrow up to EUR 750 billion on the capital market to address the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. Its swift ratification by all EU countries is key to boost the recovery in Europe with fresh money. National parliaments must therefore ratify the decision as soon as possible.

Finally, European solidarity means working together to deliver a truly European vaccination campaign. A fragmented campaign benefits no one and would jeopardize the recovery by widening inequalities between Europe’s regions. This is why, ahead of the European Summit, the Cohesion Alliance warns EU leaders against the risk of a competition for vaccines on the ground. We call for close coordination between the EU, regional and national governments to make sure that the needs and expectations of all our citizens are met. 

We must put all our efforts into avoiding a ”vaccine divide” that would increase inequalities between our regions, cities and villages.

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Latest

Cohesion Alliance

Cohesion Alliance - News 2020

#CohesionAlliance mobilises to back the European Parliament in the final stretch to secure a strong and participated cohesion policy 2021-2027

The #CohesionAlliance partner organisations met online to discuss the current state of the trilogue negotiations of the cohesion policy package with representatives from the European Parliament, the European Commission and the German Council Presidency. The partner organisations representing cities, regions and regional assemblies voiced their concern about macroeconomic conditionality, the risk of centralisation and the full implementation of cohesion and REACT EU programmes over the upcoming years.

The negotiations between European Parliament and Council on the rules for cohesion policy 2021-27 are entering the final phase. Cities, townsand regions and the European Parliament have converged on key demands and successfully advocated for strong cohesion policy beyond 2020. 

“Concluding the negotiations on all cohesion policy programmes is more urgent than ever. It’s less than one months until Christmas, so national governments should stop playing games and listen to its cities and regions. A delay in the negotiations on the cohesion policy regulation risks a postponement of the start of programmes. This would have a direct impact on our citizens, who urgently rely on the EU support. These funds are essential for local and regional authorities to take action against the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and accelerate a sustainable and socially-fair recovery“, said Isabelle Boudineau, Chair of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions.

Younous Omarjee, MEP, Chair of the REGI committee: “The European Union is going through an economic and social crisis on an unprecedented scale. The conditions for recovery in 2021 are unknown. More than ever, cohesion policy must be powerful, because today what is threatening is the distortion of economies and divergence. The logic of cohesion and solidarity must take precedence over that of competition. The principles of cohesion must be at the heart of the recovery, and we must plead for a recovery that is sustainable, but also fair and equitable.”

During the debate with Marc Lemaitre, Director-General DG REGIO, European Commission, and Heinz Hetmeier, Deputy Director-General for European Economic Policy, EU Structural and State Aid Policy, and Twinning at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the #CohesionAlliance partners voiced their concern about some remaining key issues in this last phase of the negotiations. In particular, towns, cities and regions worry that macroeconomic conditionality introduces significant uncertainty on future investment once the Growth and Stability Pact comes back into force. Furthermore, a narrow definition of the scope of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) would make key investment ineligible and an ill-conceived flexibility would allow for centralisation and weakening of key tools such as the European Social Fund. 

At the same time, managing authorities will face significant implementation challenges as the new programmes 2021-2027 will run in parallel with the current prolonged programmes 2014-2020. The #CohesionAlliance partners therefore call on the European Parliament and the Council to simplify the new regulations as much as possible as well to speed up their adoption. 

Further interventions from the conference (alphabetical order): 

• Magnus Berntsson, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER): “In this crisis, it is time to practice the leadership that our citizens expect from the EU and national governments. Time to promote new jobs, competitiveness, sustainable and inclusive growth to drive the recovery. To achieve this, funding must reach our regions, villages and cities immediately. And they must have a say in how best to use the funds.”

• Wim Dries, Mayor of Genk and member of the Policy Committee of Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR): “Even when all Member States will agree in the Council, Europe’s next long-term budget and Recovery Plan will still have to go through parliaments to become fully adopted and operational. The resulting delay will clash with our urgent needs, in terms of public services delivery and finances. National associations of local and regional governments can help convey the urgency of swift local action to our parliaments.”

• Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR): “The difficulties for recovery in regions with different pre-existing handicaps such as border regions, peripheral, sparsely populated, mountainous, etc., should be considered when planning the allocation of new or extended EU programmes. Territorial cooperation programmes and a new generation of integrated territorial instruments should receive the necessary inputs to accelerate the economic recovery of all territories of the EU and, thus, serve as laboratories for a strengthened European integration. The participation of local and regional authorities and stakeholders in the design and management of these programmes will mean a better identification of the needs to address and the best way to proceed, adding a great value to their implementation while guaranteeing high-quality delivery.“

• Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga and member of the Executive Committee of EUROCITIES: “We can maximise the impact of future investments, if we target the local needs in times of crisis. For this to happen, cities must have a seat at the table when the decisions about programming priorities are taken. When we work closely together across levels of government, we can ensure that cohesion policy is invested where it makes a positive difference to the quality of life locally.“

• Ana Martinez Vidal, Vice-President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and Regional Minister of the Region of Murcia: “As Cohesion Alliance Partners, we should keep our efforts to voice the view of the local and regional authorities. A sustainable economic recovery will only be achieved if local and regional authorities have a central role in designing and delivering the investments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The Partnership principle and multilevel governance become more important than ever.”

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Publications, Territorial development, Territorial development

Empowering Europe’s rural future

Cohesion Policy Alliance - News 2020

CEMR urges inclusive, place-based vision for rural territories 

Read full position paper

As the European Union shapes its long-term vision for rural areas, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) calls for a fresh, inclusive approach that recognises rural territories as vibrant, diverse, and essential to Europe’s sustainable future. 

In a context shaped by post-COVID realities, demographic shifts, and the need for climate resilience, CEMR stresses that rural areas must no longer be seen as peripheral or left behind. Over 50% of Europeans live in rural or peri-urban territories, yet these areas still face gaps in investment, connectivity, and access to services. 

CEMR’s position lays out a clear path forward: 

  • Shift the narrative: Rural areas are not just agricultural zones in decline, but places of opportunity, well-being, and innovation. A positive and modern image must be promoted across all levels of government. 
  • Invest in connections: Better transport links, broadband access, and energy infrastructure are key to rural inclusion. Public investment must step in where market failures persist. 
  • Strengthen local governance: Municipalities and regions are best placed to tailor solutions to their rural communities. They must be true partners in designing and delivering EU and national policies. 
  • Support rural services and quality of life: Equal access to health, education, culture, and mobility is crucial to prevent depopulation and ensure territorial cohesion. 
  • Target EU funding more effectively: Cohesion Policy, CAP, Horizon Europe, and recovery instruments must better support rural-specific needs, with simplified access for small municipalities. 
  • Foster youth engagement and gender equity: Making rural areas attractive for young people, women, and families will require tailored policies and investment in social infrastructure. 

CEMR calls on the EU, Member States, and institutions like the OECD and Council of Europe to take these principles seriously and to build rural policies that are integrated, inclusive, and future-focused. From tourism and energy to local governance and public services, rural areas must be seen as full contributors to Europe’s social and territorial fabric. 

Read the position paper here 

For more information, contact: 

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion

Cohesion Alliance

Cohesion Policy Alliance - News 2020

Cohesion and partnership must be the driving force for European recovery

The #Cohesion Alliance – an EU-wide alliance of 12,000 signatories calling for a stronger cohesion policy after 2020 – welcomes the European Commission’s revised 2021–2027 EU budget and Recovery Plan proposals including the extension of the current cohesion programmes with increased flexibility and additional funding.

However, the Alliance urges the European Commission and Member States to ensure the involvement of cities, municipalities and regions and maintain a strong focus on cohesion in all recovery measures, aimed at rebuilding the economy, fostering sustainability and strengthening the territorial and social fabric of our Union, including in the European Semester process. 

The EU’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) and Recovery Plan must focus on cohesion as a fundamental value of the European Union, to pursue major challenges such as the European Green Deal, the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights as well as the digital transformation. In the current crisis, cities, municipalities and regions need the direct support of a strong cohesion policy more than ever to prevent widening territorial disparities and an asymmetric recovery as Member States have different financial means to address the current economic and social challenges.

The #CohesionAlliance welcomes the European Commission’s proposal to ensure the role of Cohesion policy as a strong EU long-term investment policy, as well as the investment of 55 bn EUR (2018 prices) through REACT-EU to provide an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its social and economic consequences. The extension of the current Operational Programmes will allow for a quick implementation of crucial investment.

In addition, the increased flexibility for transferring resources between funds and the widening of scope to support the health services, tourism and culture sectors as well as to provide working capital to SMEs will help local and regional governments invest money where it is most needed, provided that it fully respects the cohesion core principles.

The Alliance is nevertheless concerned that without consideration for the diverse needs of regions, cities and municipalities as well as strong involvement of local actors, the Recovery and Resilient Facility – which is the most powerful investment tool of the EU recovery plans – is at risk of failure. For now, most measures are only directed to Member States without clarifying how much say local and regional authorities would have in revising programmes and in spending resources.

The strong link of the Facility to the European Semester and to country specific recommendations can lead to a further centralisation of the recovery plans. The Alliance urges all EU and national institutions – and in particular EU Reforms and Cohesion Commissioner Elisa Ferreira – to take the needed steps to ensure that the national plans for recovery and resilience comply with the Partnership Principle, respond to the real needs of citizens and businesses and allow for stronger and more structured involvement of local and regional authorities.

The #CohesionAlliance partner organisations have put forward their priorities in a new draft declaration affirming cohesion as a fundamental value of the European Union and a key objective for all its policies and investment. The partners of the Cohesion Alliance 2.0 will launch the new declaration during their next meeting in early June.

GAUDRON Marine
In EU budget, EU budget, Governance, Governance, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Local finances, Local finances, Publications, Territorial development

COVID impact on local finances 

COVID 19 finances - News

A Europe-wide snapshot of the pandemic’s fiscal impact on municipalities and regions, and what support is still missing  

Read full study

The COVID-19 pandemic placed local and regional governments at the frontline of public health response in Europe. While ensuring safety, maintaining essential services, and supporting vulnerable populations, these governments were simultaneously burdened with spiralling costs and plummeting revenues. A survey conducted by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in May 2020 offers critical insight into the financial distress faced by cities and municipalities across 17 European countries. 

The survey reveals a dual pressure on local and regional finances: soaring expenditures, primarily for personal protective equipment, sanitation, and social support and sharp declines in revenue due to reduced economic activity. Tax revenues, municipal service fees, and income from the cultural and tourism sectors were severely impacted. For example, Bulgaria saw a 41% decrease in municipal income from its own sources, and Austria faced estimated municipal revenue losses between €900 million and €2 billion. 

While local authorities acted swiftly, organising food deliveries, providing accommodation for healthcare workers, and ensuring online education, support from national governments was slow and often insufficient. Although a few countries, like Estonia and Germany, implemented meaningful aid measures, most national support was delayed, limited, or only promised in future budget cycles. 

Many governments, like in France and Sweden, pledged support, but uncertainty remains about the long-term sustainability of subnational budgets. Furthermore, the varied structure of local financing systems across Europe means that the financial impact differs widely between countries and even among municipalities within the same country. 

The CEMR report makes it clear: without timely and adequate support from national and European levels, local and regional governments risk losing the capacity to invest in recovery and sustainable development. To prevent a prolonged post-pandemic investment slump, EU funds, especially from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, must be made directly accessible to local authorities. 

Only by empowering municipalities can Europe hope to achieve its long-term goals for resilience, cohesion, and sustainability. Now is the time for stronger multilevel cooperation and for the EU to acknowledge the central role of local and regional governments in shaping recovery. 

Read the study here 

For more information, contact: 

GAUDRON Marine
In EU budget, EU budget, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Local finances, Local finances, Publications, Territorial development, Territorial development

Strong Budget, Strong Cohesion 

Cohesion Policy Alliance - News 2021

CEMR urges EU leaders to secure an ambitious long-term budget that empowers local and regional governments 

Read full position paper

As EU leaders prepare to decide on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) calls for a robust budget and a cohesion policy that keeps local and regional governments at its core. 

The need for an ambitious MFF 

CEMR stresses that ambitious European goals, sustainable development, the Green Deal, and social inclusion, cannot be delivered without a strong budget. Any further cuts to cohesion policy, such as those recently proposed, would undermine Europe’s ability to meet its commitments. Local and regional governments, as the key actors implementing EU policies on the ground, rely on a timely agreement to ensure a smooth transition to the next funding period. 

Just Transition and partnership 

CEMR welcomes the creation of a Just Transition Fund to support regions in the shift towards a low-carbon economy. However, these new measures must come with additional funding, not at the expense of cohesion policy. Equally vital is the Partnership Principle, which guarantees that municipalities and regions are directly involved in programming and implementing EU funds. This principle must remain a cornerstone of cohesion policy. 

Europe’s ambitions will only succeed if local and regional governments have the tools to deliver them. A strong MFF, safeguarded cohesion funding, and reinforced partnership are the foundations of a Europe closer to its citizens. 

Read the position paper here 

For more information, contact: 

GAUDRON Marine
In EU budget, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Local finances, Publications, Territorial development, Territorial development

The future of EU cohesion policy

Cohesion Policy - News Section

CEMR opens dialogue on reforming EU Cohesion Policy post-2020 to better support local and regional development

Read full statement here

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), representing over 100,000 local and regional authorities across Europe, has launched an early contribution to the debate on the future of EU Cohesion Policy. With discussions on the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework already underway, CEMR stresses the importance of adapting Cohesion Policy to ensure it continues delivering economic, social and territorial cohesion for all communities. 

CEMR proposes three possible scenarios: maintaining the current system, introducing incremental improvements such as simplification and stronger partnerships, or pursuing a more fundamental reform through the creation of a single territorial development fund. These options aim to make Cohesion Policy more effective, accessible, and transparent. 

At the core of its opening statement, CEMR outlines five guiding principles for reform: 

  1. Integrated and simplified – moving beyond silos towards more coherent funding instruments. 
  1. Inclusive – ensuring stronger bottom-up partnerships and local ownership. 
  1. Result-oriented – focusing on impact and outcomes rather than only expenditure. 
  1. Relevant and flexible – aligning priorities with territorial realities and avoiding excessive thresholds. 
  1. For all territories – safeguarding equitable support, especially for less developed regions. 
  2. This statement marks the beginning of a dialogue between CEMR, its members, and the EU institutions. By placing local and regional governments at the heart of the debate, CEMR seeks to shape a Cohesion Policy that is more integrated, inclusive and effective, ensuring no territory is left behind in the next programming period. 

Read the position paper here 

For more information, contact: 

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Publications, Territorial development

Cohesion policy at risk 

Cohesion Policy Alliance - News 2021

CEMR outlines 10 key messages on the future of cohesion policy and calls for stronger territorial and partnership approaches 

Read full position paper

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has set out ten key messages on the European Commission’s proposals for the future of cohesion policy. While welcoming steps towards simplification, CEMR warns against funding cuts, weakened territorial approaches and the exclusion of rural development from cohesion policy. 

Protecting territorial and partnership principles 

CEMR stresses that the Partnership Principle must be enforced across all regulations, ensuring that local and regional governments have a meaningful role in designing and implementing programmes. Equally, the territorial approach should not be sidelined but mainstreamed across all policy objectives of cohesion policy, including ESF+ and CAP rural development. 

Ensuring flexibility and capacity 

The proposals must safeguard the possibility of multi-fund approaches such as Community Led Local Development (CLLD) and Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI). Local and regional governments also need more flexibility to set investment priorities according to local needs, backed by sufficient resources for capacity building and technical assistance. 

Avoiding harmful reductions 

CEMR warns that cohesion policy risks losing its integrated character if funding is fragmented or reduced. Particular concern is raised over cuts to European Territorial Cooperation (INTERREG), which plays a vital role in fostering cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation. 

Conclusion 

CEMR calls on EU institutions to ensure that the next Multiannual Financial Framework preserves cohesion policy as a strong, place-based instrument, rooted in partnership and territorial development, capable of addressing Europe’s diverse challenges. 

Read the position paper here 

For more information, contact: 

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